Water-cycle.



G. O. GRACROFT.

WATER CYCLE.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 5. 1912.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. 0. URAOROPT.

WATER CYCLE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5, 1912.

1,071,709. Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m: Gimme/1 COLUMBIA PLANDGIZAPH' co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

G.0.0RAGROFT.

WATER CYCLE.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 5, 1912.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lllllllllllllblllllhh CHESTER O. GRAGROFT, OF SEWAREN, NEW JERSEY.

WATER-CYCLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'latented Sept. 2, 191.3.

Application filed October 5, 1912. Serial No. 724,121.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Cims'rnR O. Cnnomir'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sewaren, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Valer- Cycles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to vessels and has special reference to what I term preferably a water cycle.

The subject-matter of the invention constitutes an improvement on the water cycle for which I made application for Letters Patent, bearing the filing date of July 2, 1910, and Serial No. 570,094.

The principal object of the invention is to improve and simplify the general construction of devices of this character.

. A second object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of frame and center board for such devices.

lVith the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in general of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like charactors of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a bow view thereof. Fig. at is a longitudinal section through one of the supporting pontoons. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lower end of the steering rod and its connections. Fig. 6 1s a perspective view of the rudder and its connections. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the bearing for the tail end which supports the propeller. Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal section of the cycle. Fig. 9 is a central transverse section of the cycle. Fig. 10 is a central sectional View of a modified form of the device showing a gasolene engine for driving the propeller.

In carrying out the objects of the invention there is provided a pair of pontoons 10 each of which is divided into a number of air-tight compartments 11, and at each end of each of these pontoons is a bracket 12, said brackets being connected in pairs by cross bars 13. Intermediate the bracket on each pontoon is a fin 14, and the fins on the two pontoons are connected by cross braces 15 which are in turn connected by longitudinal braces 16. Depending from the forward cross bar 13 is a bracket 17 to the lower end of which is secured the front; end of a center board 18 the rear end whereof is socured to a bracket 19 depending from the forward cross member 15. Depending from the rear cross member 15 is a bracket 19 having intermediate its ends a journal 20 wherethrough passes a shaft 21 carrying on its rear end a propeller 22 and being provid ed at its forward end with a beveled gear 23 which meshes with a beveled gear 24- mounted on the stub shaft supported in suitable bearings 26. On the upper end of this stub shaft is a beveled gear 27 which meshes with a beveled gear 28 carried on a shaft 29 provided with the treadle levers 30, the shaft being mounted in brackets 31 which support a seat box 82 carrying a seat 33. The members 16 are connected by cross braces 34 wherein is journaled a steering rod 35 provided at its upper end with the handles 36 and at its lower end with a cross arm 37 which is connected by wires 38 with a.

cross arm 39 fixed to a rudder post 40 sup ported in a frame member 41. On this rudder post 40 is also carried a rudder l2 so that the movement of the handle regulates the position of the rudders.

In operation the person using the machine rotates the treadlc arms 30, and through the medium of the gearing drives the propeller while at the same time he guides the machine by the handles 36.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form and construction thereof without departing from the material principles thereof, and it is therefore not wished to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

As illustrated in Fig. 10, any form of driving means may be employed such as the gasolene engine indicated by A. Of course, in place of the gasolene engine as illustrated in Fig. 10, a motor of any type may be substituted therefor.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

In a device of the kind described, a pair of spaced pontoons, a bracket at each end of mechanism supported by said cross bars and each pontoon cross bars connecting said longitudinal members. 10 brackets and holding said pontoons in In testimony whereof I hereunto ail-1X my spaced relation, fins rising above said ponsignature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

toons intermediate said brackets, other cross CHESTER O. CRACROFT. bars connecting said fins, longitudinal meln- Witnesses:

bers connecting the last mentioned cross bars HERMAN FRIEDMAN,

adjacent the center, and driving and steering LoUIs Gr. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents, each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

